Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) vs Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Both Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) Review View Sophos Firewall (XGS) Review

Overview

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.

Developer-friendly WAF using proprietary SmartParse technology, offering low false positives and seamless DevOps integration for modern application security.

Next-gen firewall (SFOS on XGS appliances) with a built-in reverse-proxy Web Application Firewall via its Web Server Protection module; the active successor to the end-of-life Sophos UTM.

Quick Comparison

Feature Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) Sophos Firewall (XGS)
Overall Rating 4.5/5 3.8/5
Free Tier No Yes
Pricing Model Custom pricing based on requests and features Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)
Ease of Use 4.0/5 3.9/5
Value for Money 3.8/5 4.0/5
Support 4.5/5 3.8/5
Platforms Any web application, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless, Nginx, Apache XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Compliance SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR Common Criteria, FIPS-validated cryptography (model dependent)

Pricing Comparison

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

Model: Custom pricing based on requests and features

Essential

Custom pricing

Professional

Custom pricing

Premier

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Model: Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)

Free Tier Available

Home Edition

Free

Xstream Protection (Commercial)

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

  • SmartParse Technology

    Intelligent parsing technology that understands application context to reduce false positives by 90%+.

  • Power Rules

    Flexible rule language for creating custom detection and response logic based on any request attribute.

  • API Discovery

    Automatic discovery and cataloging of API endpoints with security assessment.

  • DevOps Integration

    Native integrations with CI/CD tools, infrastructure as code support, and developer-friendly APIs.

  • Multi-Environment Deployment

    Deploy as cloud service, agent, or edge module across diverse infrastructure.

  • Real-Time Dashboards

    Live visibility into attacks, decisions, and application health without sampling.

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • Reverse-Proxy WAF

    Apache-based reverse proxy that protects published web servers against SQL injection, cross-site scripting, directory traversal, and other common web attacks.

  • Form Hardening

    Signs and validates form fields to prevent manipulation of submitted web forms.

  • URL Hardening

    Restricts accessible URLs based on the learned structure of the protected application.

  • Cookie Signing

    Cryptographically signs cookies to detect and block tampering.

  • Reverse-Proxy Authentication

    Adds basic or form-based authentication policies in front of published web servers via WAF rules.

  • Antivirus Scanning

    Scans uploads and traffic to protected web servers for malware as part of Web Server Protection.

Which One Is Right for You?

The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

  • You need: Modern DevOps teams, API-heavy applications, organizations frustrated with false positives, companies needing flexible deployment options
  • You're using: Any web application, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless, Nginx, Apache
Learn more →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • You need: Organizations already running Sophos Firewall, businesses wanting WAF and network security in one appliance, home labs and educational users via the free Home Edition
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You're using: XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Learn more →

We recommend evaluating both options with a trial or free tier before committing. Consider your existing infrastructure, team expertise, compliance requirements, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for startups: Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) does not, making Sophos Firewall (XGS) more accessible for budget-conscious startups. Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) scores higher for ease of use (4.0/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) has a higher support rating (4.5/5) compared to Sophos Firewall (XGS) (3.8/5). However, support quality can vary based on your plan tier - enterprise customers typically receive more responsive support from both providers. Consider evaluating support during a trial period.

Which is easier to implement: Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) scores higher for ease of use (4.0/5) versus Sophos Firewall (XGS) (3.9/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) requires a paid plan. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for value (4.0/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Both Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) and Sophos Firewall (XGS) support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.